CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION
This patent application is based on Taiwan, R.O.C. patent application No. 098114962 filed on May 6, 2009.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a television (TV) control based on user habits, and more particularly, to a TV receiver, an associated system and a TV control method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn the prior art, a TV remote controller usually has a button for returning from a currently viewed channel to a previously viewed channel, and a user may also press the button to switch between the two channels. However, this simple design can not meet requirements of most users.
More particularly, in order to immediately switch to a desired channel, the user has to memorize numbers of certain favorite channels. Yet, with respect to a user without a good memory, such prerequisite of memorizing the numbers of the favorite channels is inconvenient even to an extent of infeasible, such that the user is forced to continuously switch channels one after another to find a favorite channel. There are some remote controllers that provide other buttons to solve the foregoing problem. However, it is still impractical for a family having several members when each of the members has his own favorite channels.
As mentioned above, the design of the prior art is too simple and the available solution is impractical to meet user requirements. Therefore, the conventional technology needs to be improved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne object of the present invention is to provide a TV receiver, an associated TV system, and a TV control method to solve the foregoing problem.
A TV receiver is provided according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The TV receiver comprises a wireless module, a database, a user identification module, and a channel selecting module. The wireless module receives a wireless signal carrying an identification (ID) data of a specific user. The database stores channel selecting information corresponding to a plurality of users. The user identification module retrieves channel selecting information of the specific user from the database according to the ID data of the specific user. The channel selecting module selects a channel according to the channel selecting information corresponding to the specific user.
An associated TV system corresponding to the foregoing TV receiver is provided according to an embodiment of the present invention. The associated TV system comprises a remote controller, a wireless module, a database, a user identification module, and a channel selecting module. The remote controller transmits a wireless signal carrying an ID data of a specific user. The wireless module receives the wireless signal. The database stores channel selecting information corresponding to a plurality of users. The user identification module retrieves channel selecting information corresponding to the specific user from the database according to the ID data of the specific user. The channel selecting module selects a channel according to the channel selecting information corresponding to the specific user. More particularly, the remote controller comprises an identification module and a wireless module. In one embodiment, the identification module is implemented with a fingerprint identification module. The identification module generates the ID data, and the wireless module of the remote controller transmits the wireless signal.
An associated TV control method corresponding to the foregoing TV receiver is provided according to an embodiment of the present invention. The TV control method comprises receiving a wireless signal carrying an ID data of a specific user; retrieving channel selecting information corresponding to the specific user according to the ID data of the specific user; and selecting a channel according to the channel selecting information corresponding to the specific user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a TV system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a TV control method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a TV control method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a database in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a TV system in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTRefer toFIG. 1 showing a schematic diagram of aTV system100 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. TheTV system100 comprises aTV receiver110 and aremote controller180. TheTV receiver110 comprises awireless module112, adatabase114, auser identification module116, achannel selecting module118, and ananalysis module120. Theremote controller180 comprises afingerprint identification module182 and awireless module184. According to this embodiment, theTV receiver110 is a set-top box (STB) such as a digital TV STB; however, this example shall not be construed as limiting the present invention. According to a variation of this embodiment, theTV receiver110 is built inside a TV. For example, theTV system100 is a liquid crystal digital (LCD) TV system or a plasma TV system. According to another variation, theTV receiver110 is built inside a laptop, a pocket computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a multi-functional mobile phone.
For example, theuser identification module116 and theanalysis module120 are realized through acontrol circuit110C by executing a specific program code. Under such condition, theuser identification module116 and theanalysis module120 represent software modules of the specific code, so that thecontrol circuit110C is physically theuser identification module116 and theanalysis module120. However, the example is disclosed to gain a better understanding of the present invention, and it shall not be construed as limiting the invention. According to a variation of this embodiment, the specific code is a firmware code. Thedatabase114 is built inside a storage device such as a hard disk or a memory.
According to this embodiment, thedatabase114 stores channel selecting information corresponding to a plurality of users. Theanalysis module120 respectively gathers statistics on users' viewing habits, and in particular, with the aid of thechannel selecting module118, counts the numbers of times of viewing respective channels by the respective users, so as to obtain a distribution of the numbers of times of viewing the channel. More specifically, when a user views a program, theanalysis module120 learns an identity of the current user from theuser identification module116, and gathers statistics on viewing habits of the user. In particular, from thechannel selecting module118, theanalysis module120 gathers and counts the numbers of times of viewing respective channels by the respective users, so as to obtain a distribution of the numbers of times of viewing the channel. Thus, corresponding to the users, theanalysis module120 respectively generates channel selecting information to be stored into thedatabase114. According to this embodiment, theanalysis module120 updates the channel selecting information stored in thedatabase114 at all times or on a predetermined schedule. In a preferred embodiment, theanalysis module120 further gathers statistics on channels viewed by each user at different time points.
Upon detecting a touch from a specific user, theremote controller180 transmits an ID data of the specific user to theTV receiver110. After having received the ID data, the TV receiver selects a corresponding channel, i.e. channel selection is performed. In this embodiment, the ID data comprises a data representing fingerprint information of the specific user. For example, the ID data is a group of 16-bit codes or a bit string.
For example, names of the users comprises “Neo”, “Trinity”, “Morris”, and “Bob”, fingerprint information of the users are respectively “a098fjkx”, “adsvk93”, “9839xkss”, and “akavkek2”, and supposing the specific user currently holding theremote controller180 is “Neo”. In response to a touch from “Neo”, thefingerprint identifying module182 generates the ID data “098fjkx” of the specific user “Neo”, and thewireless module184 correspondingly transmits a wireless signal including the ID data “098fjkx”. Thewireless module112 of the TV receiver receives the wireless signal carrying the ID data “098fikx” of the specific user “Neo” from thewireless module184. In addition, in response to the wireless signal received by thewireless module112, theuser identification module116 retrieves channel selecting information corresponding to the user “Neo” from thedatabase114. Accordingly, thechannel selecting module118 selects a corresponding channel.
According to this embodiment, thewireless modules112 and184 are infrared control modules, and the foregoing wireless signal is an infrared signal. More particularly, thewireless module184 is an infrared transmitting module, and thewireless module112 is an infrared receiving module. However, this example is disclosed to gain a better understanding of the present invention, and it shall not be construed as limiting the present invention. According to a variation of this embodiment, thewireless modules112 and184 are other types of wireless transmitting/receiving modules. For example, thewireless modules112 and184 are Bluetooth communication modules or radio frequency (RF) communication modules.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating steps of aTV control method900 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. TheTV control method900 is applied to theTV system100 illustrated inFIG. 1. TheTV control method900 comprises acontrol flow910 of a remote controller and acontrol flow920 of a TV receiver, which respectively correspond to theremote controller180 and theTV receiver110 illustrated inFIG. 1. TheTV control method900 is described below.
InStep912, thefingerprint identification module182 identifies a fingerprint of a specific user. For example, when the specific user “Neo” currently holds theremote controller180, in response to a touch from the specific user “Neo”, thefingerprint identification module182 identifies the fingerprint of “Neo” and generates an ID data “a098fjkx” corresponding to “Neo”.
InStep914, thewireless module184 transmits an ID data of the specific user, and more particularly transmits a wireless signal carrying the ID data “a098fjkx” when the specific user is “Neo”.
InStep922, theuser identification module116 determines whether the current user is a valid user. More particularly, theuser identification module116 searches thedatabase114 according to the ID data received from theremote controller180, so as to determine whether the current user is the valid user. When the answer is yes,Step924 is performed; otherwise,Step928 is performed. For example, when theuser identification module116 searches thedatabase114 according to the ID data “098fjkx”, and determines that the ID data “098fjkx” corresponds to the user “Neo”,Step924 is performed.
InStep924, theuser identification module116 accesses channel selecting information. For example, theuser identification module116 retrieves channel selecting information corresponding to the specific user from thedatabase114 according to the ID data, and transmits the channel selecting information to thechannel selecting module118.
InStep926, thechannel selecting module118 selects a favorite channel of the user, and more particularly selects the favorite channel according to the channel selecting information of the specific user. For example, when the specific user is “Neo”, thechannel selecting module118 selects a channel according to a favorite channel (channel5 in this embodiment) of the specific user “Neo”. According to this embodiment, channel selecting information of each of the users comprises a favorite channel. For example, when the channel selecting information from the latest statistics of thedatabase114 indicates the favorite channel of the user “Neo” ischannel5, thechannel selecting module118 accordingly learns that the favorite channel of the user “Neo” ischannel5 and thus selectschannel5. However, this example is disclosed to gain a better understanding of the present invention, and it shall not be construed as limiting the present invention. According to a variation of this embodiment, the channel selecting information of each user comprises a favorite channel or a plurality of favorite channels each having a priority. For example, when the channel selecting information from the latest statistics of thedatabase114 indicates the favorite channels of the user “Neo” ischannel5, channel10, channel15, and channel20 in sequence; thechannel selecting module118 activates theTV receiver110 to display the numbers of the favorite channels in the priority sequence so that the user can select one of the favorite channels. According to a variation of this embodiment, when a reply of the user is not obtained within a predetermined time, e.g., several seconds, thechannel selecting module118 directly determines that a favorite channel having a highest priority, e.g.,channel5, is the favorite channel.
InStep928, thechannel selecting module118 selects a channel according to a common approach; however, this example is disclosed to gain a better understanding of the present invention, and it shall not be construed as limiting the present invention. According to a variation of this embodiment, thedatabase114 further stores channel selecting information corresponding to a general user. Therefore, thechannel selecting module118 selects a channel according to the channel selecting information corresponding to the general user.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a TV control method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. More particularly,FIG. 3 is a flowchart of thecontrol flow930 of theTV receiver110, and this embodiment is a variation of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 2. According to this embodiment, channel selecting information of at least one user may further comprise one or more channel prohibited from viewing. For example, when the user “Neo” is the head of a family, he has an authority for defining theTV system100, such as defining a prohibited channel with respect to each member of the family. In addition to defining a prohibited channel for an underage member, the user “Neo” may also define an unwished channel as a default prohibited channel for the entire family.
InStep932, theTV receiver110 receives the wireless signal via thewireless module112 to obtain the ID data of the specific user.
In Step934, theuser identification module116 retrieves the channel selecting information corresponding to the specific user. More particularly, theuser identification module116 retrieves the channel selecting information corresponding to the specific user from thedatabase114 and provides the obtained channel selecting information to thechannel selecting module118. For example, when the specific user is “Neo”, theuser identification module116 searches thedatabase114 for the ID data carried by the wireless signal, and accordingly retrieves the channel selecting information corresponding to the user “Neo”.
InStep936, after receiving the channel selecting information provided by theuser identification module116, thechannel selecting module118 learns whether the channel selecting information comprises prohibited channels. More particularly, after receiving the channel selecting information provided by theuser identification module116, thechannel selecting module118 learns whether the channel selecting information comprises a prohibited channel list. When the channel selecting information comprises prohibited channels, Step938-1 is performed; otherwise, Step938-2 is performed. For example, after Step934 of retrieving the channel selecting information corresponding to the user “Neo” by theuser identification module116 and providing the channel selecting information to thechannel selecting module118 is performed, thechannel selecting module118 learns that the channel selecting information comprises prohibitedchannels54 and55, and Step938-1 is to be performed.
In Step938-1, thechannel selecting module118 selects a channel according to the channel selecting information and skips the prohibited channels during a channel switching. More particularly, when the user “Neo” activates theTV receiver110 to select his favorite channels, under control of thechannel selecting module118,Step924 andStep926 are performed. Once the user “Neo” switches channels one after another,channels54 and55 are skipped. For example, when switching from channel40 and upwards, channel53 directly jumps to channel56 without going throughchannels54 and55. When switching from channel70 and downwards, channel56 directly jumps to channel53 without going throughchannels55 and54.
In Step938-2, the channel selecting module18 selects a channel according to the channel selecting information. For example, when the specific user activates theTV receiver110 via theremote controller180 to select his favorite channels, under control of thechannel selecting module118. Step924 andStep926 are performed. Since no prohibited channel exists under this condition, once the specific user switches channels one after another, the channel is switched upwards and downwards in a normal numerical order.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of thedatabase114 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and this embodiment is a variation of the first embodiment. In addition to a fingerprint identification data of a user, a name of a user, a favorite channel, a prohibited channel, thedatabase114 according to this embodiment further comprises a viewing time, i.e., a time limit that a TV is allowed to be viewed. This embodiment is similar to the foregoing embodiments, and details thereof shall not be described for brevity.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of aTV system200 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, and this embodiment is a variation of the first embodiment. TheTV system200 according to this embodiment does not have functions that theanalysis module120 corresponds to. According to this embodiment, the channel selecting information corresponding to the users is respectively generated by recording channels that the users viewed at a previous viewing. More particularly, the channel selecting information corresponding to the users respectively has predetermined values. Once the specific user views a certain channel, a favorite channel of the channel selecting information corresponding to the specific user is updated. This embodiment is similar to the foregoing embodiments, and details thereof shall not be described for brevity.
According to variation of this embodiment, in thedatabase114, the channel selecting information corresponding to the users is correspondingly defined by the users. This embodiment is similar to the foregoing embodiments, and details thereof shall not be described for brevity.
According to a variation of the first and second embodiments, channel selecting information corresponding to the users may be generated by a first generating mode of gathering statistics on users' viewing habits, a second generating mode of being defined by the users, or a third generating mode of recording channels viewed at a previous viewing. The users are given the three options above to determine to which of the three generating modes to use. This embodiment is similar to the foregoing embodiments, and details thereof shall not be described for brevity.
Compared to the prior art, a TV receiver, an associated TV system and a TV control method according to embodiments of the present invention are capable of automatically providing a favorite channel to every individual within a group of users, and this humanization and personalized service is not jeopardized by other user viewing habits. Therefore, according to the present invention, an excellent viewing experience is ensured for every user.
Another advantage of the present invention is that, a TV receiver, an associated TV system and a TV control method according to embodiments of the present invention are capable of defining prohibited channels for any user from a group of users while authorities of other users are not influenced.
While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not to be limited to the above embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.